Is My Fast Valid If I Eat after Fajr?

Sister sent this question: “As-salamu `alaykum. I just read your article about “When do Muslims stop eating for fast“. But I’ve a question: what if somebody missed that time by mistake i.e. today my family missed that time we got up 5 minutes after the Fajar adhan. So, what are we supposed to do in that case because we had different points of view in that case?“

Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It is clearly stated and known that the time of fasting is from dawn till sunset, which is known in Islamic Fiqh as from the adhan of Fajr till the adhan of Maghrib.

So, no one is allowed to eat or drink after the adhan of Fajr or before the adhan of Maghrib.

Hence, if someone is eating or drinking shortly before the adhan of Fajr, he/she must stop hearing the adhan.

As for your case, you have done a big mistake by drinking and your mother-in-law has made a bigger one by eating and drinking after the adhan of Fajr.

But, as long as you have done this by mistake, i.e. not intentionally or on purpose, there is no problem for you both. You just have to ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness (istighfar) and you must make up for that day after Ramadan.

It was narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “My Ummah will not be held accountable for what have done by mistake, what they forgot, and what they had been forced upon.” (At-Tabarani)

Mind, also, to make up for any day on which you have done similar mistakes.